Strikeforce's Scott Smith preparing for stand-up battle with Nick Diaz on June 6

All apologies to former NBA great Dominique Wilkins, but Strikeforce middleweight Scott Smith (16-5) is quickly becoming the modern-day “Human Highlight Film.”

From the UFC to EliteXC, and now Strikeforce, Smith has sacrificed his personal well-being in an effort to entertain.

And if Smith holds true to recent claims, his June 6 bout with Nick Diaz (19-7) at “Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields” in St. Louis won’t be any different.

“I’m definitely anticipating a knockout,” Smith said in a recent media call promoting the event. “I’ll be going for it in the first round. (But) whether it is in the first, second, or third, it doesn’t matter to me – as long as the fight doesn’t go the distance.”

Smith has earned back-to-back knockout wins in Strikeforce, with Benji Radach falling in April and Terry Martin lasting just 24 seconds in November 2008. And with 13 total career wins by knockout or TKO, Smith’s strategy is no secret.

“I plan on keeping this fight standing,” Smith said. “I think [Diaz] is going to try to take me apart. He’s a more technical fighter than I am. He’s going to want to take this fight to the ground.

“His best chance of winning is getting it to the ground. I’m going to use my sprawl and brawl technique.”

Diaz, a Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt, has also relied on his hands in recent contests. Smith believes Diaz has the advantage on the floor but enjoys the stand-up game too much not to engage.

“If [Diaz] is smart, he’s going to try to get it to the ground,” Smith said. “That’s where he has the advantage. But I think he’s going to go out there and bang with me.

I’m ready for everything. I just have to worry about what I do best and control the fight and not wait for him. If I wait for him, he’s going to pick me apart.”

Diaz’s pawing striking style doesn’t often earn him respect as a power puncher. But Smith said he’s well aware of Diaz’s capabilities.

“I think people don’t give him enough credit,” Smith told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “He has a lot more power than what it seems. He just does a good job of picking people apart and setting up the power punches.

“I’m definitely not underestimating his power at all. I’ve definitely had to change up a few things in my technique to train for Nick.”

So no, less than two months after his rousing battle with Radach, Smith is ready to again stand toe-to-toe – regardless of what damage he may incur in the process.

“I fight the way I fight because I have fun doing it,” Smith said. “I don’t think I would have fun going in there and having a three-round snore fest. I had a terrible fight against Patrick Cote that went the distance.

“After that fight, I promised myself I’d never fight like that again and (I would always) leave it all out there.”

And if that means taking on damage in a rousing brawl, only to secure a come-from-behind win, that’s just fine with “Hands of Steel.”

“If it gets to the point that my body can’t handle it anymore, then it’s just time to get out of the game,” Smith said. “But I’m not going to sit there and try to change my style of fighting to try to prolong my career.”

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